Apparatus for processing canned foods



May 18, 1943 A. R. KQENNEDY 2,319,505

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CANNED FOODS Filed Nov. 16, 1 940 6Sheets-Sheet l May 18, 1943 IIT l-B A. R. KENNEDY APPARATUS FORPROCESSING CANNED FOODS Filed av. 15. 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 [/Y ve/v TOEMay 18, 1943 A R KNNEDY 2,319,505

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CANNED FOODS Filed Nov. 16, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet3 9 A. R. KENNEDY 5 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CANNED FOODS Filed Nov. 16,1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ZN yen 7oz May 18, 1943 A R KENNEDY 2,319,505

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CANNED FOODS Filed Nov. 16, 1940 6 sheets-sheet5 BIli.1U

INVENTOB APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CANNED FOODS V Filed Nov. 16, 1940 6Sheets-Shet 6 'P IEI. B ,2

Patented May 18, 1943 APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CANNED FOODS.

Alex R. Kennedy, deceased, late of Indianapolis,

Ind., by Harriett M. Kennedy,

executrix,

Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Indiana Condensed Milk Company,Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation Application November 16, 1940, SerialNo. 365,906

7 Claims. (01.126-272) This invention pertains to an apparatus forprocessing canned, foods, and particularly condensed or evaporated milkand milk products, such as ice cream mix.

The invention herein disclosed is directed primarily to sterilizingcanned food products embodying milk, such as an ice cream ,mix, after ithas been sealed in the can, whereby such a product may be subjected tosterilization through application of heat at ,a higher temperaturewithout scorching or tending to separate the solids. This isaccomplished in general by subjecting the sealed can containing suchproduct to a preheating, followed by cooking at a high temperature,While the can is continuously rotated at high speed. This is immediatelyfollowed by continued cooking while the can and contents thereof are'held dormant, followed by agitation through rotation thereof during acooling period, wherein the temperature is reduced to approximately roomtemperaturaall as hereinafter more fully set forth and described.

A further object of the invention is to provide 7 suitable apparatus forefiecting the above or similar processing, reference being had to PatentNo. 2,144,334, issued January 17, 1939, to Alex R. Kennedy for Apparatusfor processing canned foods. Sa'id apparatus comprises one or moreelongated tubes which comprise a processing chamber into which a heatingmedium, such as steam, is injected for preheatingand cooking, followedby the introduction of water for cooling. Each of said tubular chamberscontains a rotating carrier in which a batch or a series of cans aresupported for rotation in end to end relation. The feeding of each batchof cans into the carrier at one end simultaneously ejects the processedcans from the other end. Upon a each batch ofc-ans being "fed into themachine,

ducing and removing the heating and cooling mediums in the processingchamber, andiparticw larly the adjustable manifold header for carryandequally distributing such medium throughout the full length of thechamber. This isvmost important in that it is essential that eachcan,irrespective iO'f its position throughout the entire length of thechamber, be subjected to the same temperature over the same period oftime by the heating and cooling medium as the other cans.

Other objects and features of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Figs. 1A and 13 together form a side elevation of a preferred form ofthe apparatus with moving parts removed to show more clearly thearrangement of processing chambers and associated piping. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the front or input end of the apparatus with some of themoving parts shown but with the greater part thereof removed. Fig. 3 isa cross sectional view in elevation taken substantially on the line 33of Fig. 1A. Fig. 4 is an end view of the input end of one of theprocessing units showing the mechanism used for feeding cans thereto.Fig. 5 is a side view of the mechanism of Fig. 4 with parts in section.Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the opposite or discharge end ofthe apparatus, Fig. 6 showing the parts in position for discharging thecans therefrom and Fig. '7 showing the parts in position assumed duringprocessing. Fig. 8 is a plan view of certain mechanism used foroperatingthe parts shown in Figs. 6 and 1. Fig. 9 is an elevational view ofcertain parts associated with the input end of the apparatus. Fig. 10 isa plan view of the clampingmechanism for the closure plates.

For purposes of illustration, apparatus is here in disclosed aspertaining to an ice cream mix,

the principal ingredients of which are milk, sugar and flavoring, all aswell known in the art.

.Upon developing the ice cream mix, it is placed in cans, usually of thepint size, which are sealed preparatory to beingsterilized. As will bedescribed in respect to the apparatus employed, a .batch of said cans,of any number, but, for example, about 60, are injected end to endinto'a tubular carrier which is rotated for imparting to said batch ofcans a high speed of rotation about their aligned axes. Said cans arethen subjected, while being rotated, to a preheating temperature of 210degrees F., for a duration of two minutes. This is accomplished byinjecting sufficient steam into a tubular chamber encircling therotating carrier.

Following the preheating of the-cans and dur-.

ing their continued rotation, they are subjected to a cooking operationby increasing the steam supply until the temperature in the chamber israised to 255 degrees'F. Such cooking operation is continued for two andone-half minutes. Thereupon the rotation of the cans is discontinued bybringing their rotating carrier to a standstill so that "the cans liedormant therein. During this operation, the cooking temperature isslightly decreased to 250 degrees F. for a duration of three minutes.

Following the second phase of the cooking operation, the cans are againrotated about their axes while being cooled. During this period thesteamin the processing chamber is discharged while cooling water isintroduced to rapidly decrease the temperature from 250 degrees F. downto about 90 degrees F., or less. The cooling operation is continued fora period of about five minutes, after which the processed cans areremoved from the apparatus and the processing thereof discontinued byinjecting another batch of cans into the feeding end of the carrier andthereby forcing the processed cans from the discharge end of thecarrier. Upon the processed cans having thus been discharged, thecarrier will thereupon be filled with a new batch of cans to beprocessed, and the same procedure is again followed with respectthereto.

The apparatus for carrying out the above method of processing, and asillustrated herein, comprises primarily a series of longitudinallyextending tubular housings l defining the processing chambers ll (Fig.3). The unit herein disclosed embodies a series of three such housingsand chambers extending parallel with each other in the same plane andslightly spaced apart, thus having a capacity three times that of asingle processer.

The cans containing the product, ice cream mix in this instance, areindicated at l2 and are slidably fed end to end into a tubular carrierl3 extending completely through the housing I0. Said carrier issupported for rotation within the processing chamber and spaced from thewalls thereof. It is preferably formed of a tube having numerousperforations I4 formed thereabout. Immediately above the carrier [3 andsimilarly extending longitudinally throughout the full length of theprocessing chamber II there is provided a manifold I5 through which theheating or cooling medium, such as steam or water,

is introduced into the chamber and sprayed over justed at various pointsthroughout the length of the manifold by adjusting screws l1 extendingagainst each side thereof so as to squeeze the slot and narrow itagainst the inherent spring tension of the metal forming the manifold.Said adjusting screws are threaded through bosses l8 in each side of thehousing 10 and positioned at'intervals along its length. The control ofthe heating or cooling medium discharge by such means is essential,since each can to be processed remains in a fixed locationlongitudinally of the chamber and must have the same or equal treatmentas the other cans.

The manifold I5 is fed from a series of head- 5 ers l9 located atintervals along the top of the housing Ill, which headers are connectedwith the steam-and water supply, there being a steam connection 20 and awater connection 2| for each header. Steam is fed through the connection20 from a pipe 22' and water is fed through the connection 2| from awater pipe 23. Upon water being injected into the housing, the steamcondenses and is drained through drain connections 24 to a drain pipe25. Similarly, after the cooling period the cooling water is drainedfrom the housing.

The housings ID are in the form of large pipe sections connected byflange fittings 25 at each end, and are supported upon the cross beams21 resting on columns 28. In large sized units the housings may beconnected by similar flanged fittings at points between their ends.

The rotating carrier I3 is rotatably supported at suitable intervals bybearings 29 which are supported in the housing by studs 30 threaded intobosses 3!, there being two side bosses and one bottom boss for eachbearing (Fig. 3). Adjacent each of the bearings there is a handholecovered by a plate 32 for permitting access to the bearing and interiorof the housing.

' The carrier I3 is rotated by a suitable drive as best illustrated inFig. 2, wherein there is provided a motor 33 mounted on the forward endof the apparatus. Said motor drives a shaft 34 by a belt 35, said shaftbeing supported in bearings 36 and 31. The driving end of the shaftextends through the bearing 31 into a housing 38 and is provided with asprocket 39 which drives a chain 40 which in turn drives a sprocketsecured to one of the carriers 13. The remaining carriers are driven intandem by chains 4| through suitable sprockets secured to said carriers.

As shown in Figs. 6 and. '7, a series of three conveyor belts, eachcarrying a supply of the cans l2, are trained about idler pulleys 43 atthe discharge end of the apparatus and are suitably supported above thehousings l0. Said conveyor belts extend the full length of the housingsI 0 and each has a, capacity equal to or greater than that of thecorresponding processing chamber. The cans are placed on the belts 42manually at the discharge end of the apparatus or may be suppliedthereto by suitable conveying machinery. The belts 42 accumulate asucceeding batch of cans during the time that the batch in the carrieris being processed. Said belts are power driven as hereinafter describedand convey the cans l2 to the input end of the apparatus. Side walls 44are provided to maintain the cans on the belts during transit.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 which show the forward or input end ofone of the three housings l0, there is provided a motor 45 for drivingthe conveyor belts 42. Said motor is mounted on a bracket 46 and drivesa speed reducing apparatus through a belt 41. Said speed reducingapparatus consists of a pulley 48 driving a worm 49 in turn driving aworm gear 50 mounted on a stub shaft 5|. Shaft 51, through a sprocket onthe end thereof, drives a chain 52 in turn driving a sprocket 53 freelyrotatable on a shaft 54 mounted in fixed bearings 55. Sprocket 53 isconnected to a ratchet clutch member 56 which drives a sprocket 51through one or more pawls 58 secured to said sprocket. The sprocket 51is freely mounted on the shaft 54 and drives a chain 59 in turn drivinga sprocket mounted on a shaft 60. The shaft 60 extends across theforward end of the machine and carries driving pulleys 6| about whichthe conveyor belts 42 are trained. One of said driving pulleys is seenin Fig. 5. By means of this construction the motor 45 may drive theconveyor belts 42 at a predetermined speed. However, the speed ofmovement of the conveyors may be momentarily increased when the sprocket51 is rotated at a correspondingly higher speed by mechanism to behereinafter described. During periods of such increased speed the pawl58 may slip over the teeth of the ratchet clutch "member .55.

The cans 12 "are fed from the conveyor belts $2 to the upper end of achannel shaped chute "62 adapted to conduct the cans downwardly in thepath indicated by the successive cans 12 :in Fig. 4. The cans are guideddownwardly through said chute by bars 63 secured to conveyor chains 64.and spaced apart to receive the cans therebe tween. In the downwardmovement the cans are prevented from leaving the chute $2 by an overheadapron55 secured to a stationary bracket 66. The conveyor chains 64 aretrained about suitable sprockets mounted on shafts 61 and BB inturnmounted on the bracket 66. The shaft 61 carries a sprocket 69 driven by.a chain '10 "from aisprocket H carried byasshaft 12. The sprocket H isfreely mounted on the shaft 12 and is provided with an enlarged hub 13containing a common form :of overrunning clutch :by means ofwhichrotation of the shaft 12 in one direction to :move the cansdownwardly on the chute 62 turns the sprocket 1|, but rotation of; saidshaft in the opposite direction .permits said sprocket to stand inplace. The ratchet and pawl type of clutch similar to that shown at 56and 58 is suitable for the purpose.

The shaft 1-2 carries at its outer end a bevel gear :l4 meshing with abevel gear 15 running freely on the shaft 54. The bevel gear 15 isprovided with an enlarged hub-to which there is attached an arm '15connected by a link TI to a plunger F8. :Said plunger is reciprocated bymechanism to bedescribed hereinafter and in its reciprocation it impartsthrough the link i! and arm '16 an oscillatory motion to the bevel gear15. The resulting oscillatory motion of shaft 1-2 intermittently drivesthe chains "64 and bars 63 through the overrunning clutch contained inthe hub '13 to move the cans 12 down the chute '62 in timed relationwith the reciprocation of the plunger. The proportioning of the severalsprockets is such 'thateach tim plunger 1 3 is retracted a can "isdischarged from the lower end of thechute 62 to a receiving cup "alignedwith'thebore oi the carrier 13. During the forward motion of the plunger18 the conveyor bars E3 remain stationary to retain the cans in rier l3.

It is .to be understood that -a similar arrangement of parts may beprovided for each "of the processing units. However, it is desirable tooperate each of the sets of conveyor chains irom a single one of thep'lungers 18. For this purpose there is provided on the shaft 6'! asprocket -80 carrying a chain 8| adapted to drive the shaft 51 of thenext unit to the left through a similar sprocket. The third unit issimilarly driven from the second unit and thus the chains 6'4 of allthree units are driven in unison.

"The plunger 18 is mounted upon an arm 82 which in turn is mounted upona cross bar 83. Said cross bar extends through the full width of theapparatus so as to support a plunger for each unit and is movahl-ysupported at each'end by a channel 84 riding upon :a roller -85 whichrolls in a channel 86 mounted upon an extension 81 of the forwardcolumns 28. For oscillating or driving the series of 'plungers as shownin Fig. 2

there are provided a pair of connecting rodstB,

each otwhich is connected with a suitable conratchet wheel.

necting block to a sprocket chain 83a so that oscillation of saidsprocket chains will reciprocate said 'plungers in itimed relation. Saidsprocket chains are carried by suitable sprockets mounted on theshafts89a shown in Fig. 1--B, to the ends of which are keyed the sprockets89b. "The sprockets 89b carry a master chain :890 to which the pistonrod 89 is connected. Thus operation ofthe piston rod 89 thenreciprocates the master chain 890 which in turn .drives the shafts 8.9athrough which the action is distributed to the sprocket chains 83a forreciprocating their respective connecting rods 88 and the plungers 18.The piston rod "89 is driven from a double acting steam cylinder 90.Said steam cylinder is provided with a, conventional slide valve in avalve chest 95 and a conventional reversing gear 96. Its operation andspeed may be controlled by a suitable throttle valve in the usualmanner. The normal operating speed of the cylinder and plunger isapproximately 60 cycles per minute.

It is essential that there should be a can completely fed into positionon the chute 62 by the conveyor belt 42 at each operation of theconveyor rods 63 to prevent fouling the apparatus in the movement ofsaid rods. For this reason means are provided 'for momentarilyincreasing the speed of the conveyor belt 42 during each forwardmovement of the plunger when the rods 53 are not moving. Said meansincludes a ratchet wheel 92 formed integrally with the hub of bevel gear15,-a disc or plate 93 formed integrally with the sprocket 51 and-aseries of spring pressed pawls 34 carried by said disc and engaging saidThe disc '93 is driven in the clockwise direction of Fig. 5 by themot-or H at the normal speed of the sprocket 51. In the counterclockwisemovement of the gear 15 as the plunger '18 is retracted, the pawls 94slip over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 92 but in the clockwisemovement of said gear as the plunger is moved forwardly, the ratchet maymove at a greater speed than the normal speed of the disc 93 and in sodoing may drive said disc at the increased speed. The pawl 58 then slipsover the teeth of ratchet 58 and a forward impulse is given to theconveyors 42. Thus the complete delivery of each can to the chute 62 isinsured even though the rate of operation of the plunger may be variedwithout changing the speed of motor '45.

For the purpose of causing the cans to be properly positioned on thechute 62, means is provided to stop the forward can when it reaches apredetermined position and cause the cans to slip with respect to themovement of the belt 42. For this purpose, there is provided a hingedstop .arm 91 (Fig. 5) pivoted on a part of the bracket 66 and sopositioned as to arrest the feeding movement of the forward can when itreaches the proper position on chute 62 in line with the path ofmovement of conveyor rods 53. The arm 91 is normally held in place by apair of toggle links 98 pivotally connected to said arm and to thebracket 66. As the conveyor rod 63 moves into position to pick up theend can, it strikes a cam finger '99 which is connected with the togglelinks 88 so as to force them upwardly to draw the stop arm 91 inwardlyto relieve the pressure on the end can created by the force of all thecans back of it sliding on the belt. This permits the end can to beslightly moved forwardly free from frictional engagement with the i canimmediately behind it.

In the manner above described, the cans are intermittently fed in timedrelation from the conveyor belt 42 down the chute 62 by the conveyorrods 63 and dropped thereby into the cup I9 each time the plunger isretracted. The forward strokes of the plunger press the cans into thecarrier I3.

After the complete batch of cans is thus fed into the carrier so that itis full of cans, the operator turns 01f the steam in the steam cylinder90 so that the oscillatory movement of the plunger stops. However, thebelt 42 continues to be driven, but free of cans, since at this pointthey have all been fed into the carrier. Thus the conveyor chain 64 andthe conveyor rods I53 are brought to rest, whereas the belt 42 continuesto be driven for the purpose of reloading it wit cans for the nextbatch.

After the batch has been fed into the carrier it i necessary to closeboth ends of the housing in such manner as to retain the steam pressuretherein. For this purpose, closure discs IBI are provided at the forwardor intake end of the housings (Figs. 4, and 9) and corresponding closurediscs I32 are provided at the discharge end (Figs. 6 and 7)." Each ofthe discs IQI is carried by a bell crank lever I 33 pivotally mounted onthe end flange of the housing at IE3. The free end of the bell cranklever is connected with an actuating rod Hi5 extending transversely ofthe front end of the machine and connected to oi erate simultaneouslyall closures for the several housings. Said rod is connected by a linkI35A to an arm I 05 extending upwardly from an operating shaft I01 (Fig.9). Said shaft extends the full length of the machine and is supportedat each end in suitable bearings. At the discharge end of the shaft itthere is an upstanding arm I99 which is connected to an actuating barII!) by a connecting link III for simultaneously and similarly operatingthe closure plates I02 at. the discharge end. The operating shaft IIiIintermediate its ends is provided with a crank arm II2 (Fig. 9) actuatedby a piston rod I I3 operated by a double acting air cylinder II l.Thus, the shaft may be actuated to eiiect simultaneous closure oropening of both ends of the housing by admission of air to one end orthe other of the cylinder He by the usual air valves not shown.

It may be noted that the can receiving cup I9 is carried by the closureplate Iiil, as shown in Figs. 4. and 9, so that when the closure plateis in its lower or open position, the cup is positioned in alignmentwith the carrier I3, but when the plate is swung to closing position thecup is moved therewith out of the way.

For clamping the closure plates lei in sealing position after havingbeen moved to closing position, the plungers it are actuated to moveforwardly .by steam pressure to press the plate in sealing position. Asshown in Fig. 10, the plungers are locked in their forward position bythe lever I5i engaging the hook I52 secured to the plunger. Said leverhas its opposite end pivotally secured to a bracket arm I53 andintermediate its ends it is pivotally connected with a draw bar I54 inturn connected with the hereinafter described draw bars I2I. Forclamping each of the plates IGZ at the discharge end of the machine,there is provided a pressing arm H5 pivoted at M6 to the end flange ofthe housing and provided with an adjustable bearing screw in extendinginto engagement with the plate. Said arms are moved into sealingposition by links [I8 connecting the arms with the operating bar H0(Fig. 6). Thus when the bar I I!) is actuated to swing the plates I62into closing position the bars H5 are simultaneously actuated thereby.Thereupon the sealing pressure is applied by locking bars II9 behindwhich the lower ends of pressing arms II5 extend, said locking barsbeing pivotally connected at one end to brackets use and beingoperatively pivoted at the other end to draw bars I2I Said draw bars I2Iextend longitudinally beneath the machine where they are connected to across member I22 actuated by a piston rod I23 extending into a doubleacting air cylinder I23. Said air cylinder is actuated by suitablevalves to draw the bars into plate sealing position or release them topermit the plates to be swung to open position.

At the discharge end of the machine, each unit is provided with amovable can chute I25 mounted on the bar III! so that-when the platesI02 are swung to open position, the chutes I25 move into position toreceive the discharged cans. On the other hand, when the plates areswung to closed position these chutes are moved to one side. Immediatelyunder the discharge end of the chutes there is a transversely travellingconveyor belt I26 operating on the end rollers I2! and I28. The belt isdriven through the pulley I23 by the shaft I29 having universal jointconnection with reduction gearing contained in a housing I33, whichgearing is driven by a pulley IBI from a pulley on a shaft I32 operatedby an electric motor of the usual and well known character. Upon thecans sliding down the chutes I25 they strike the belt on one end and arecarried thereby into engagement with the guide fingers I33 which alignthem on the belt from which they topple over sideways on to a track I34(Fig. 7). Thus the processed cans are caused to roll down said track toa receiving station.

The steam pipe 22, by means of which the processing steam is supplied tothe apparatus, is fitted with a shut-off valve I35 provided with an aircylinder I35, the opposite ends of which are connected by pipes I31 to areversing valve I38 mounted on a control panel I39. The reversing valveI38 is of a well known form adapted to connect the pipes I31 alternatelyto an air supply pipe I33 and an exhaust pipe MI. By manual operation ofthe reversing valve air is admitted to either end of the cylinder I36and exhausted from the opposite end to open or close the valve I35.Similar cut-off valves I42 and I43 are provided in the water supply line23 and drain pipe 25 respectively and may be similarly operated byreversing valves l ldand I45 mounted on the control panel I39. Thepiping connections for this purpose are omitted from the drawing sincethey are similar to those for valve I35.

A throttle valve I46 is placed in the steam supply pipe 22 and isoperated by a handwheel I41 mounted on the control panel I39 to regulatethe flow of steam to the processing chambers to maintain the properpressure and temperature therein during the several steps of theprocess. The valve I35 is used merely to stop and start the fiow ofsteam, the rate of supply being controlled by valve me. In some casesthe cut-01f valve may be omitted and both functions are then performedby the throttle valve.

Reversing valves I48 and I49 are also mounted on the panel board I 39and are connected to control the supply of air to the cylinder I I4 andI24 respectively in the manner described for valve I38. Ahandwheel I50on the controlpanel is connected to operate a throttle valve forcylinder 90. Push button stations for controlling the operation of theseveral motors may also be mounted on the panel board. Thus the controlof the entire apparatus including the loading and locking operations,the supply of steam and water for the processing steps and the drainingof the processing chambers is centralized at a single operator's stationat the control panel.

The invention has been described in one of its preferred forms, thedetails of which may be varied without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for processing canned foods comprising a tubular housingin which a plurality of cylindrical food containing cans issimultaneously processed as a batch, a tubular carrier supported withinsaid housing for rotation axially in spaced relation to the wallsthereof, means for individually forcing each can of said batch to beprocessed in end against end abutting relation into one end of saidcarrier for processing therein and thereby forcing a previouslyprocessed batch of cans from the other end thereof, driving mechanismadapted to rapidly rotate said carrier axially of said housing and canswith said cans frictionally retained against longitudinal movementtherein, and a distributing element in said housing and coextensivetherewith for distributing heating or cooiing mediums throughout thelength thereof to simultaneously process all of the cans containedtherein. v

2. An apparatus for processing canned foods comprising a tubularhousing, a perforated tubular carrier supported within said housing forrotation axially in spaced relation to the walls thereof, said carriernormally being open at bot ends thereof, means for injecting a batch ofcylindrical cans to be processed into said carrier to extendlongitudinally thereof in end against end relation and thereby ejectinga processed batch of cans previously contained therein, means forsealing both ends of said carrier upon filling with a new batch of cans,driving mechanism for rapidly rotating said carrier, and a distributingelement extending through said housing for introducing alternatelyheating or cooling mediums throughout the length thereof tosimultaneously process all the cans contained therein.

3. An apparatus for processing canned foods comprising a tubular housingof substantial length for receiving a batch of cans to be processedtherein, a header extending the full length of said housing, said headerbeing in the form of a tube slotted throughout its length, a series ofconduits connected with said header for alternately introducing heatingor cooling mediums at spaced intervals therein for discharge into saidhousing, whereby said mediums may be uniformly distributed by saidheader throughout.the length of said housing, and a control memberassociated with said header operable to vary the width of said slot.

4. An apparatus for processing canned foods comprising a tubular housingof substantial length for receiving a batch of cans, a header extendingthe full length of said housing, said header being in the form of aslotted tube, a

series of conduits connected with said header for alternatelyintroducing heating or cooling mediums at spaced intervals therein fordischarge into said housing, whereby said mediums may be uniformlydistributed by said header 75 throughout the length of said housing, anda series of adjustable pressure screws extending through said housinginto engagement with the opposite walls of said header operable tocompress said tube against the inherent spring tension thereof forvarying the width of said slot.

5. An apparatus for processing canned foods comprising a tubularhousing, a tubular carrier supported within said housing for rotationaxially and spaced from the walls thereof, means for injecting a batchof cylindrical food containing cans to be processed into said carrier inand against end relation, driving mechanism for rapidly rotating saidcarrier with said cans frictionally engaged for rotation therewith,means associated with said carrier adapted to retain said cans againstlongitudinal movement during processing, a tubular header extendingthroughout the length of said housing adjacent said carrier and providedwith a longitudinal slot along one side thereof, and a series ofconduits for alternately introducing heating or cooling mediums intosaid header, whereby said mediums will be evenly discharged through saidslot respectively to simultaneously process all the cans in said batch.

6. An apparatus for processing canned foods comprising a tubularhousing, a tubular carrier open at both ends supported within saidhousing for rotation axially and spaced from the walls thereof, meansfor injecting a batch of cylindrical food containing cans endwise intoone of the open ends of said carrier, said injected cans acting to ejectprocessed cans from the opposite end thereof in end against endrelation, end sealing plates simultaneously movable to and from theopposite ends of said housing and carrier, mechanism operable tosimultaneously move said plates into closing and sealing relationtherewith, driving mechanism for rotating said carrier within saidhousing when sealed by said plates, and a header arranged to distributeheating or cooling mediums throughout the length of said housing andcarrier to simultaneously process all the cans contained therein.

'7. An apparatus for processing canned foods comprising an elongatedtubular housing, a perforated tubular carrier supported within saidhousing for rotation axially and spaced from the walls thereof, saidhousing and carrier being normally open at both ends, an intermittentlyactuated plunger for individually engaging and injecting a batch ofcylindrical cans into one end of said carrier in end against endrelation and thereby ejecting processed cans from said carrier at theother end thereof, means for conveying said cans into axial alignmentwith and between said carrier and plunger, cooperating driving means forsaid plunger and conveying means for actuating them in timed relation, aheader extending through said housing above said carrier provided with arestricted discharge opening extending throughout its length directedtoward said carrier, driving mechanism for rapidly rotating said carrierwith the batch of cans contained therein, interconnected closure membersactuated by said driving mechanism operable to simultaneously close theopenings at the opposite ends of said carrier and seal the same, andmeans for introducing alternately heating or cooling mediums into saidheader.

HARRIETT M. KENNEDY, Erecutrir of the last will and testament of Alex R.Kennedy, deceased.

